Sounds of America: Nashville to New Orleans

Your musical vacation begins today in the home of country music, Nashville. Upon arrival, make your own way to our hotel in the heart of Nashville and check in for three nights before getting to know your new surroundings.

Our hotel is close to several significant locations connected to the history of country music. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Walk of Fame Park are half a block away, and the Johnny Cash Museum is nearby. You might also like to get your hands on a physical piece of the region's musical legacy at the Gibson Garage, the guitar manufacturer's flagship location in Nashville, which offers history about the brand, demos and live music performances, in addition to a vast selection of Gibsons for sale.

Nashville is renowned for its hot chicken, and with no planned dinner this evening, you could seek some out in a local restaurant. Overnight Nashville.

From Uncle Jimmy Thompson's first performance on what would become the Grand Ole Opry in 1925 to modern stars like Taylor Swift, Nashville has produced and nurtured many icons of country music. After breakfast, we delve into the city's rich musical history as we embark on a guided coach tour.

Along the way, we view Nashville's attractions, including some of the recording studios on Music Row, hearing the stories of artists who recorded tracks there. Following the tour, you have free time to explore or dine independently before a highlight of the vacation.

This evening, we visit one of Nashville's most famous institutions, the legendary Grand Ole Opry, known as country music's biggest stage. Founded as a radio station in the mid-1920s, this venue still hosts a regular live music broadcast in addition to its stage shows. We take our seats for a performance of eight or more artists, from legendary music stars to upcoming talent. Overnight Nashville.

• Breakfast

After last night's performance at the Grand Ole Opry, we step deeper into the history of country music after breakfast.

Our day begins with a visit to the world-famous RCA Studio B, where artists including Elvis, the Everly Brothers and Dolly Parton once wrote songs and cut records. Afterward, we arrive at the Country Music Hall of Fame, the world's largest music museum. Here, we are free to explore and find out more about the stars who have shaped the history of country music from its roots until today. An impressive roster of names is on display, with the likes of Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Garth Brooks being honored. There are various interactive exhibits, and the center has an unrivalled collection of country music recordings dating to the 1930s.

The rest of the day is free to explore further, and this evening, you might like to head to Honky Tonk Highway, a row of bars with live music and lively atmospheres lasting well into the night. Overnight Nashville.

• Breakfast

"We're goin' to Jackson, look out Jackson town," sang Johnny Cash and his future wife, June Carter, in the famous 1967 song. And today, we follow in their footsteps as we leave Nashville and travel through Tennessee.

Renowned for its railway heritage, Jackson is also revered as the birthplace of rockabilly, a high-energy combination of country music and rock'n'roll popularized by Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Cash himself. Enjoy some time to find lunch independently, or you could choose to pay for a guided tour of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. From Jackson, we continue to the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center for a guided tour. The center is dedicated to the diverse history of the Southern states, from the musical traditions to the region's infamous history of slave labor. The site also hosts the Tina Turner Museum, honoring the singer who was born in nearby Nutbush.

We complete the day's journey in Memphis and check into our four-star accommodation at The Guest House, right next to Elvis Presley's legendary home, Graceland, with a free evening. Overnight Memphis.

• Breakfast

It is one of the most famous addresses in music: Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee. Waking up next door this morning, it is our first destination. The mansion that Elvis Presley called home has become a pilgrimage site for devoted fans and music lovers from around the world. Touring Graceland, we gain insight into the King of Rock'n'Roll while exploring his house, viewing the preserved living quarters decorated with an eclectic mix of memorabilia, and admiring his incredible car collection.

This afternoon, we are introduced to the main attractions of Memphis' musical history, beginning at the iconic Sun Studio, where legendary blues artists Howlin' Wolf and B.B. King first recorded. The studio also claims the title of the birthplace of rock'n'roll, as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash recorded here during their careers.

We transfer back to our hotel, and the rest of the day is free. You could immerse yourself in the beating heart of musical Memphis, Beale Street. Known as the birthplace of the Blues, there is live music in every bar along this buzzing street. Overnight Memphis.

• Breakfast

Blues music is said to have spread from the Mississippi Delta by rail, and this morning, we board Amtrak's City of New Orleans train to experience that journey in reverse. Along the way, we pass through Mississippi towns with significant stories to tell, such as Greenwood, Jackson and Hazlehurst, the birthplace of Robert Johnson.

Blues has its roots in songs of the delta plantation workers, and after our train arrives in the Louisiana town of Hammond, we visit Oak Alley Plantation for an evocative tour. We learn about the history of this grand Greek revival house at the end of a canopy of oak trees whose grounds stand as a reminder of the privileged lives of landowners and the suffering of those who were enslaved to work on the sugar cane fields.

We continue to New Orleans, where we check in to our hotel in the historic heart of this city. Our hotel is a short distance from Bourbon Street, which comes alive at night with the blast of jazz trumpets, cocktail bars and flamboyant dance shows. Overnight New Orleans.

• Breakfast

The French Quarter is one of the best-known areas of New Orleans and a National Historic Landmark. This morning, we tour this beautiful area that is the hub of the party during Mardi Gras.

On a guided tour, we stop at the famous Café Du Monde to enjoy a beignet and a café au lait. Savoring the deep-fried choux pastry in this open-air café draws us into New Orleans life as we take our seats in the same venue as jazz luminaries, such as Louis Armstrong. After some free time, we regroup and board the Creole Queen, a traditional paddle steamer, for a sightseeing cruise along the Mississippi River. Enjoying views of the Big Easy that only the river can provide, our cruise also showcases the site of the Battle of New Orleans.

After disembarking, you are free to enjoy your evening at leisure. You might like to explore Bourbon Street and the surrounding areas, where you can pop into a jazz bar, seek out Cajun zydeco music or spend the night listening to authentic blues. Overnight New Orleans.

Your day is free to soak up the sights of New Orleans. Known the world over as the Deep South's party city due to its Mardi Gras celebrations, there is a year-round sense of spirited adventure and playfulness.

A wander through the colorful streets offers an introduction to the city's eclectic architecture that stretches back centuries, including the stunning St. Louis Cathedral, North America's oldest cathedral, founded in 1720. For an authentic New Orleans experience, you could hop on a streetcar on St. Charles' Avenue, taking in the sights as you travel from uptown to downtown, or spend some time in the peaceful green space of one of the city's great parks.

The French Quarter has an endless choice of eateries for your final evening in the Deep South. Most places offer traditional Southern food, from po-boys (meat, seafood or crawfish-filled bread rolls) and jambalaya to fresh oysters - served raw, baked or grilled. Overnight New Orleans.

Providing a soundtrack to our explorations, America's music cities have revealed their links to influential and world-famous stars, while also providing insights into the heritage of the South. From Nashville's country music to the rock'n'roll and blues of Memphis and jazz of New Orleans, we have encountered the influences of icons such as Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Louis Armstrong on our journey.

Checking out of our hotel this morning, your vacation comes to a close. You are free to continue exploring the rich history of New Orleans at your own pace or begin your travels home.